Thread Drift

[Crankin]

Thank you, Catrin. I know I should keep my volunteer efforts bike related. And I also know that I am lucky to be able to work part time now. The thing is, if I wasn't married, I would have probably kept teaching and would have retired at 55, with a decent pension. It scares me to think how lost I might have been! Right now, I don't need to do more than I am doing, but if I cut down work more, I will. And frankly, to hear so many of you say you won't be able to retire makes me sad, because I know how hard everyone works. While it may not be a popular thing to say, money is power and freedom, too. It doesn't mean that people with more money are better, just that it gives one choices in life.

[VeganBikeChick]

So true, and as a single person, I have even less freedom. Society is weighted towards families with kids. Whatever tax breaks and other incentives exist, they are not for single people with one income. Unfair, considering a married couple has far greater earning potential than I have, but they have only one set of living costs. (Unless you count number of bikes! ). I pay so much in taxes, and have zero help from anyone.

Sometimes I wish there was a child-free tax incentive

[Crankin]

I don't disagree with you on this. The tax code was written for a different time!

[Pax]

Pax: Congratulations! I know you've waited for this for a long time. I wish you much happiness in your new life in Florida.

Pax,.so glad to read you are happily ensconced on the beach

.

Thanks! We're still pretty excited, yesterday was housekeeping chores like drivers license, car insurance, banking, voter registration, applying for our Homestead Exemption, and plates for the car... busy day but now we're official residents!

[shootingstar]

Exactly.

And if I were married and my spouse worked and made a little less than me, my tax-rate would be much lower, can't remember the numbers, exactly, but I think I'm at 35% federal, and it would be half or less? Can't remember so don't hold it against me, but I looked it up a couple of years ago and was sickened by it. I'd love someone to help me pay bills AND get a tax break. And really. The population growth rate is dependable, we don't need to reward it. (Yeah, yeah, it costs a lot to raise kids. But why should I have to raise yours?!!!!).

I understand about the tax breaks which do exist in Canada for people with children. But it requires a parents to save money for child's (university or college) education (RESP) or spend money (for some limited sports activities). The tax-savings for family with children aren't that huge in Canada. In the end, the parent(s) have to spend that saved money (hopefully) for clothing, school supplies, computer, etc. I actually think nowadays, it costs more money to raise a child. Just technology requirements alone is an expense /tool that never existed when I grew up.

However, I'm glad to have parents raise their children...to become future taxpayers. We have to remember this.. The cost of raising children is very real. (It continues to floor me parent(s) who foot a huge bill for university education which was not the trend a few decades ago...at least not among my middle-class friends.) Of course it depends how a parent will place financial independence on adult child after they leave home...

[OakLeaf]

Meh, I'd rather see tax rates made fairer between wealthy vs working people, than set people against each other based on their differing family situations.

When DH and I first got together, his income was literally ten times mine, and I was paying a higher overall tax rate. Things haven't changed substantially since then. When people with children can afford to pay for their day care without taking a third job, then *maybe* I'll worry about what they pay in taxes.

[Pax]

Actually, married couples without kids get a substantial tax break.

We learned this when we got to file as married for the first time this year, we got an extra $800 back over what we would have gotten filing as single.

[salsabike]

.....when we got to file as married for the first time this year.....

Pax, .

[katluvr]

I am only 51 but seriously want to retire! I have been working in health care since I was 19. Just tired of work. I want to play. And play before I get too old to enjoy. Tired of healthcare politics, cut backs, hierarchy in hospitals, etc. Planning to see a financial planner soon and look at what is possible between me and my SO (soon to be "wife"--another topic!). So since I have a variable schedule now, I am off during the week when it's my weekend to work. So today I am bit bored. Why? Well I need to clean the house and I don't' want to. So I procrastinate. I think if I was "retired" I would have plenty of things to do, not just house chores but then I could plan activities and with people off during the week. I am pretty sure I"ll go part-time or retire before my SO, even if I am younger. But every now and then I think how important it is to have a semi-schedule and activities to keep one busy and active. I'm not sure work is what I need to give me a long life.
So if I didn't feel guilty that I SHOULD be cleaning house or doing something productive on my day off, I would probabablly not be "bored" or procrastinating or wasting time surfing on the computer!
As for volunteer work, I am not sure about that either. I have a friend who retired and she now works as a volunteer at our hospital. Sure she rounds with the play cart and give toys, etc to the kids. But I think if I quit the hospital I would not volunteer there. I have another couple of RN friends who now do a volunteer program specifically for nurses who have retired. They do some of the hands on care, shaving, ambulating, feeding of patients. Things nurses no longer have time to do. Although worthwhile, I too, feel like that is free-labor. And volunteering at an animal shelter is way to dangerous for me!!

K